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Flying-bomb attacks during the latter half of the year, and the
subsequent evacuation of expectant and nursing mothers, and the
fact that large numbers of mothers and children took advantage of
the Government Evacuation Scheme, or else evacuated under private
arrangements, caused considerable disruption in the smooth and progressive
operation of this work. The effect of this upheaval on all
centres is clearly reflected in the following tables, where figures for
the previous year's attendances are included for comparative purposes.
The District Nursing Association midwives continued to provide
excellent domiciliary services and worked in the closest co-operation
with the department. Their work during the flying-bomb attacks
was performed under the most difficult conditions but, despite this,
they successfully dealt with 77 midwifery cases.
ANTE-NATAL CLINIC.
The Clinic is housed in the Nurses' Home, Montagu Gardens, where
very good accommodation is rented by the Council from the District
Nursing Association.
No change took place in the arrangement of this clinic, two
sessions weekly being held, with an average attendance of 10.8 patients
per session.
During the year 344 expectant mothers attended the clinic, as
compared with 398 in 1943. This represents approximately 71.4 per
cent, of the total notified births, live and still, which were assigned
to the Borough during 1944. Considering the unprecedented happenings
of the year, this figure is a creditable reflection on the efficiency
and consequent popularity of the Council's Ante-Natal Service
POST-NATAL CLINIC.
The separate monthly Post-Natal Clinic started at the beginning
of 1943, continued to be well attended during the first five months of
the year under review, and clearly emphasised the need for this special
section of the Council's Maternity Services, justifying its inception.
Attendances decreased considerably at the height of the flyingbomb
raids and, as an administrative measure, the clinic was merged
into and held conjointly with the Ante-Natal Clinic held every Friday
afternoon. Such post-natal cases as required treatment or advice were
seen on presenting themselves at this clinic. At the end of the year
attendances had not increased sufficiently to justify the opening of the
special session for post-natal cases, but it is hoped that this will
become possible early in 1945. Figures in the following combined table,
therefore, include attendances at the monthly Post-Natal Clinics until
the beginning of August, and thereafter, the attendances of post-natal
cases at the weekly Ante-Natal Clinic.
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